This summer, the UMD Arboretum team is helping students dig into something meaningful—literally. With the support of a $59,831 Sustainability Fund Grant, the Arboretum has launched its first-ever paid summer internship program. The funding supports eight student interns for 320 hours of paid work and includes educational opportunities designed to connect them with professionals in the field.
“We are thrilled to have this financial support to provide paid internships for UMD students,” said Meg Smolinski, Outreach Coordinator at the University of Maryland Arboretum & Botanical Gardens, who helps oversee the program. “It allows us to provide real learning opportunities for students while also strengthening our connection to the campus community.”
The goal of the internship is to expand students’ appreciation of and knowledge about the campus greenspace—an official, world-class arboretum and the only one in Prince George’s County—and turn that experience into something they can use to build their resumes and support their education. The grant also allows interns to participate in enrichment activities such as Green Professionals Day at American University.
Digging Deeper
The group includes students majoring in environmental science, landscape architecture, plant sciences, and related fields, each bringing their own interests and goals to the program. They share a deep curiosity about the natural world—and a readiness to learn by doing.
“Ever since I was a kid, with bugs, with plants—if I see something that looks cool, I want to know what it is,” said intern William Umberger. “And I want to know what it does and how it fits into the ecology of things. Is it beneficial? Is it invasive? Is it from here? Is it not from here?”
It’s that inquisitive mindset that turns daily tasks into learning opportunities. The interns support day-to-day horticultural work like planting, watering, and weeding, but they also take part in larger initiatives that contribute to UMD’s biodiversity and sustainability goals. Projects include enhancing pollinator and bird habitats, updating the campus tree inventory, and harvesting fresh produce for the Campus Pantry. In addition to their hands-on work, each student is working on an individual project, giving them a chance to contribute ideas to the Arboretum’s work.
One skill many interns hoped to sharpen this summer? Strengthening their plant identification skills. “Use it or lose it,” said more than one student—and this summer, they’re definitely using it. “Now every single day, all day, I’m using that information,” said Adeline Murray, who took two plant ID courses last year. “I’m locking it away up here,” she smiles and points to her head. “And it’s going to be in there for the rest of my life.”
A Two-Way Learning Experience
The internship is also a way for Facilities Management to build stronger relationships with students. “FM is an extremely valuable yet untapped resource for our student population,” Meg said. “Not only do we open the doors for our students to connect with our conservation efforts and living campus, but it's also an opportunity for our staff to connect with the students and be reminded of who we are here to serve. Having summer interns is a breath of fresh air with their knowledge and enthusiasm.”
And the chance to learn from FM staff has been one of the most meaningful parts of the experience for some students. “I think meeting a variety of different supervisors and leaders and workers and getting to hear about their experiences… It’s interesting hearing that history,” said Elizabeth Morrison. “How, maybe I could start out as a worker, as an intern right now, and have one of their positions one day, or a similar position.”
For the interns, the experience is more than just a résumé builder—it’s a chance to make a visible, lasting impact on the campus landscape. The work is physical, sometimes challenging, but undeniably rewarding. “Now, whenever I walk on campus, I think, ‘There’s my work,’” said intern Elizabeth Morrison. “It’s just satisfying. It’s nice to look at, right?”